Brick cleaning machine



.1.v H. PRICE ETAI- BRICK CLEANING MACHINE s pt. 1, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Oct. l, 1956 Sept. l, 1959 J. H. PRICE ETAL 2,901,868

BRICK CLEANING MACHINE Filed Oct. l, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 daz/77e: /v/./Dr/ce doh/7 f C/ay /0/7 INIV EN TOR5 Sept. 1, 1959 J. H. PRICE ETAL2,901,868

BRICK CLEANING'MACHINE Filed oct. 1, 195e 4 sheets-sheet s Job/7 E.("/05/20/7 INVENTORS Afro/mfr Sept. 1, 1959 J, H- PRlCE ETAL l BRICKCLEANINGMACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. l, 1956 ATTORNEY m 4 n ya HA@ m h wm United States nPatent BRICK CLEANlN G MACHINE James H. Priceand John E. Clayton, Houston, Tex.

Application October 1, 1956, Serial No. 613,084 7 Claims. (Cl. 51-80)This invention relates to a brick cleaning machine of the type which isadapted to transport bricks through a series of cutters or grindersarranged in rows whereby the abrading contact of the cutters or grinderscleans oif any material as mortar which may be deposited, as on usedbrick.

lt is a primary object of this invention to provide a brick cleaningmachine which may rapidly clean bricks by transporting them on auendless belt past a series of rotating'cutters.

It is lanother object of this invention to provide a brick cleaningmachine of this class in which the frame members mounting the cutter areyield-ably movable with relation to a xed frame through which the bricksare transported.

It is another object of this invention to provide a brick cleaningmachine of this class which carries entrance and exit guides yieldablymounted with. relation to the brick passing therethrough.

It is another object of this invention to provide a brick cleaningmachine of this class which has a minimum of operating parts, is easilyportable, and which is adapted to clean variously encrusted bricksurfaces and also to clean a multiplicity of sizes of brick.

Other and further objects will be apparent when the specification hereinis considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. l is an elevation of a brick cleaning machine incorporating oneembodiment of the invention;

Fig. Z is a sectional plan View taken along line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse elevation taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view taken along line 7--7 of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification of thestructural arrangement shown in Fig. 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings in which like reference numerals areapplied to corresponding elements in the several figures, the machine 10is shown as having two frame structures, namely a iixed frame 11 ofrectanguiar cross-section, and on transversely lopposed sides thereofframe members 12 of U-shaped cross-section, which are slidable withrelation to the frame 11 which provides ways 13 for the purpose, themembers 12 having mating slots 14 toreceive the ways 13 so that themembers 1'2 may slide -ther'ealong Since the frame 11 must be fixed withrelation to the frame members 12, a fixed support 15 is provided, as

i ice shown in Figs. 1 and 4, having raised surfaces 15 which extendthrough slots 16 provided in the lower plates of the frame members 12,such slots being spaced longitudinally from the ways 13 and grooves 14,and the frame 11 is affixed to such support 15. The frame 11 is alsoslotted above and below at 17, 17 respectively, and journal bearings 18,18 carried above and below by the frame members 12 carry shafts 19 whichextend vertically, the journals 18 being mounted on top of the framemembers 12, and the shafts 19 extending through the upper slots 17 inthe frame members, while the journal bearings 18 extend in the slotswhile the lower ends of the shafts 19 are journalled in the bearings 18and extend thereabove.

The shafts carry abrading cutters or grinders 20 thereon, and a row ofsuch units extends longitudinally in each frame member 12 in acorresponding row of slots 17, 17. A gear 21 is mounted on the top ofeach shaft 19 and idler pinions 22 are provided between adjacentv gearsto mesh therewith, such pinions being mounted on stud shafts 23journalled and supported in journal bearings 24 carried by the framemembers 12. Through the means of such idler pinions 22 the cutters 20 ofeach row rotate in the same direction, `and the rows are arranged sothat the cutters of one frame member rotate in opposite clock directionfrom the cutters of the other frame member as shown in Fig. 2. Thus asviewed in Fig. 2 one row rotates in clockwise direction and the otherrow rotates in counterclockwise direction, and the directions ofrotation are such as to oppose the translation of bricks therethrough bythe conveyor 30.

An end shaft in each row has a higher extending portion 19' which has abevel gear 24 mounted thereon. As shown in Fig. l such bevel gear mesheswith a bevel gear 25 on a shaft 26 driven from a speed reducer ortransmission box 27 which in turn is belt driven by belt L28 from amotor 29. Of necessity the transmission box 27 and motor 29, showndiagrammat-ieally in Fig. 1, must be carried by the frame member 12carrying the row of 'cutters driven thereby. j

A belt conveyor 30 extends over a sprocket 31 at either longitudinal endof the machine,.such sprockets being fixed to shafts 32 mounted injournal blocks 33 on the supports 15. The inner side of the belt istoothed as indicated at 34 in Fig. 4 to mesh with the teeth of thesprockets 31 for driving engagement, and on the opposite or `outer sideof the belt 34 uprights 35 are provided at equally spaced apartintervals to carry bricks to be cleaned.

A motor 36, shown at the rear of the machine in Fig. l, drives the rearsprocket 31 by means of a belt drive connection 37.

The bricks to be cleaned are individually placed on the belt forward ofeach upright 35 in the direction of travel, the bricks being of the typeas those removed from previous structures so that mortar and the like isfound on all or most of the sides thereof. As a brickk enters or leavesthe frame 11 its side faces come into contact with guide pilates 38which are arcuate in vertical cross-section as shown in Fig. 2 andcurved outwardly to guide the brick into contact with the irst opposedpair of cutters 20.

Since the brick side faces have irregularities, as mortar depositsthereon, the guides must yield from an initial position of closestadjacency between opposed guides. As shown in detail in Fig. 3 eachguide 38 has a sleeve 39`connected thereto to slide upon a cylinder 40having closed ends 41, 41', such cylinder being xed to the frame 11. Abolt 42,Y having a counterisink head 43 to tit within Va countersunkopening in the guide plate 38, extends through openings 44', 44, in thecylinder 3 ends 41', 41, respectively, and :has a nut 45 on its threadedend. A spring 46 surrounds the bolt 42 and bears at its outer endagainst the cylinder end 41 and at its inner end against the outer faceof the guide plate 38 and urges the guide plate 38 apart from the frame11 to the ylimits determined by the distance between the bolt 'head 43and the nut 45.

Thus if a brick entering between the opposed guide plates is wider thanan initially selected position of closest adjace'ncy between opposedguides, the guide plates 38 and bolts 42 will be pushed apar-t so thatthe guide plates 38 compress the springs 46 as the sleeves 39 slide uponthe cylinders 40. As this occurs the bolts 42 will simply move outwardlyso that the nuts 45 thereon are moved out of contact with the cylinderends 41. Then as the irregularities, as mortar, on the side faces of thebrick, move out of contact with the guides 38, the springs 46 may urgethe guides 38 and therewith the bolts 42 inwardly until thenuts 45contactthe cylinder ends 41.

As the bricks continue and are brought into contact with the Vfirst pairof cutters 20, these cutters are found to be in initial closestadjacency Vand with the innermost points of their periphery in alignmentwith the innermost surfaces of the guides 38. This is accomplished foreach frame member 12 by means of yieldable arrangements best'seen inFig. 6. A sleeve 47 is fixed to the outer face of the frame 11. Acylinder 48 is fixed to the frame member 12 and is slidable within thesleeve 47 and has a closed inner end 49 to fit within a receiving recessin the outer surface of the frame 11. Bores `Si) and 51 are provided inthe frame 11 and cylinder end 49 respectively and a bolt 52 extendstherethrough and into the cylinder 48.

A spring 53 surrounds the bolt 52 and bears at its inner end against theouter face of the cylinder end 49 and at its outer end against a washer54 on the bolt, which is defined in position by a nut 55 on the threadedend of the bolt. The distance the cylinders 48 extend within the framemembers `12 thus determines the initial distance apart of opposed pairsof cutters carried by such frame members 12, since `the lbolt heads 56bear against the fixed frame 11 while the cylinder ends 49 are fixedwith relation tothe frame members 12.

When a brick having irregularities as mortar deposits thereon passesbetween a pair of cutters, so that the brick is Wider than the initialdistance of closest adjacency between the cutters, the cutters arespread so that their shafts 19 land bottom journals '18 move outwardlyin their respective slots 17 and 17 in the frame 11, land as the shaftjournals are fixed to the frame members 12, they move in correspondencecarrying therewith the cylinders 48 so thatthe springs 53 arecompressed, the cylinder ends 49 departing and moving outwardly fromContact with the frame 11 whereas the washers 54 are held stationary bythe bearing of the bolt heads 56 against the fxedly positioned frame 11.

In this manner the bricks may pass through the pairs of cutters 20 whilein passage through each pair the mortar on the sides thereof isprogressively removed, the springs 53 being of such tension as to urgethe frame members 12 forcefully inwardly toward initial position wherebythe cutters 20 are urged into forceful rotating cutting or abradingcontact with the side faces of the brick. Such a brick 55 is shown inFig. 2 in passage through the last pair of cutters 20 which takes thefinal cleaning pass at the mortar on the side faces of the brick.

The length of the straight face portion of the guides 38 is such inrelation to the inlet and outlet guide proximity to the first `and lastpair of cutters, respectively, and in relation to the spacing betweenconveyor belt uprights 35, that the bricks in passage cannot bedeflected of of the conveyor be1t30 but rather are maintained insubstantial coaxial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the machineduring progress.

This alignment is augmented and the bricks are prevented from beingdeflected upwardly by ya hold-down plate 57 which is urged downwardlyagainst the tops of the bricks by a spring 62, the plate 57 being heldin operative position as shown in Figs. l `and 4 of bolts 58 spacedapart along the longitudinal axis of the machine, each bolt 58 having acountersink head V59 to fit in a corresponding countersunk opening inthe plate 57, such bolt extending through a bolt hole in the top of theframe y11 and having a nut 60 on the threaded end thereof to bear on thetop of the frame as the spring 62, surrounding the shank of the bolturges upwardly against a washer y61 to force the washer against theunder surface of the top of the frame, and urges ydownwardly to forcethe plate 57 against the countersink head of the bolt v58. The end ofthe plate 57 obviously should be curved upwardly at the entrance end ofthe machine, and also at the discharge end thereof.

ln order more readily to accommodate bricks of various dimensions beltconveyors 30 having uprights 35 spaced at various equal distances apartmay be used interchangeably. Also adjustment is provided for manuallymoving the frame members 11 to new ranges of cutter spacing. This `canbe done by means of a crank 63 on a shaft 64 which passes through anopening in each frame member 12 to thread into a boss 65 locatedcentrally on each side of the frame 11. Such shaft has a normallyfloating flange 67 thereon and `also `a stop collar 66 floats on theshaft which is threaded into the boss 65. Then, when adjustment isdesired, a through pin 68 is inserted to fixedly position the collar 66on the shaft to bear against the inner face of the frame 12, while theflange 67 is pinned to the shaft by a pin 67 to bear upon the outerface. After adjustment of the frame 11 has been made by twining thecrank 63, the pins 67 and 68 may be removed from the respective fiange67 and collar 66 so that the frame `12 may go through its normal,automatically adjustable movement with relation to the frame 11.

Then when the crank 63 is turned to rotate the shaft 64 in direction tounth-read the shaft from the boss 65 the frame member 12 is drawnoutwardly. As soon as a new dimension of brick starts moving through theframe y11 between the rows of cutters 20 the pin 68 may be removed andthe crank 63 turned to completely unthread the shaft 64 from the boss65.

In the case of adjusting the guides 38 to new dimentions of brick it isonly necessary to turn the nut 45 in one direction .to move the guidesoutwardly and in the other direction to move fthe guides inwardly, l'asdesired.

Whereas in Fig. 6 the sleeve 48 is shown welded to the frame member 12at 69, optionally the outer ends of the sleeves 48 may be threaded asshown in Fig. 9 to extend through a threaded opening in the frame memberand two lock nuts 71, 72 may be installed on the outer part of eachthreaded end one yto bear against the frame member 12 and the other tobear against the first lock nut. Then adjustment can be made afterdisengagng the pins 67 and 68 from the collar 66 fand fiange 67,respectively, in which ease the shaft 64 may be left in threadedengagement in the boss 65. This may be done by loosening the outer locknuit 72 from contact with the inner lock nut 71 and then turning theinner lock nut 71 in direction to move .the sleeve 48 back to 'seat inthe recess in the frame 11. After this the outer lock nut 72 is threadedin direction to again lock against the inner lock nut.

The machine thus provided is of sturdy construction, admits of readyadjustment, is easily accessible for repair, the drive members aremounted for easy maintenance, and a ne speed control can be obtained, asby means of the variable speed transmission box 27 for the cutter drivemotors, or as by providing a variable speed control for the conveyordrive motor 36.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment herein described, but awide range of other variations, em-

bodiments, and modifications are also included as such may fall withinthe broad spirit of the invention and within the broad scope ofinterpretation claimed and merited for the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A brick cleaning machine comprising a fixed frame of rectangularcross-section having transversely spaced apart rows of slots in the topand bottom thereof with the rows extending longitudinally of said frame,U-shaped frame members spaced apart and slidable transversely onopposite sides of said frame, a longitudinally extending row of cuttersin each frame member on upright shafts including lower end journals insaid slots Iand fixed to said frame member, `a driven endless conveyormounted to convey bricks in succession between said rows of cutters,said frame members each carrying a driven transmission for driving itscutters and the cutters of the opposed rows being driven oppositely inclockwise and counterclockwise direction to oppose bricks conveyedtherebetween and through said frame, means yieldably positioning saidframe members rto position said cutters with rows spaced in closestadjacency, opposed guide means at the entrance and exit into said frameand yieldably carried by said frame for spacing in initial alignmentwith the innermost points of the cutters of said opposed rows, saidcutters cleaning oposite sides of the bricks thus conveyed as saidguides receive the bricks therethrough with yieldability with relationto said frame, and said bricks passing through said cutter rows to bereceived therebetween as said frame members move with yieldability withrelation -to said frame and said cutter shafts move in said slots.

2. A brick cleaning machine comprising a xed, rectangular cross-sectionframe, opposed guide means at the longitudinal ends thereof transverselyspaced apart from opposite sides thereof |and yieldably supported bysaid frame to be yieldably urged transversely outwardly by the bricks tobe cleaned from an initial minimum distance between said opposed guidemeans, opposed transversely spaced apart U cross-section frame membersguidably, slidably supported on said frame, a cooperative meansguidably, yieldably connecting each frame member and said frame, saidcooperative means being adapted to align said frame members initiallywith said guide members and to permit said frame members .to beyieldably urged transversely outwardly from an initial minimum distancebetween frame members, each frame member carrying a longitudinal row ofcutters on upright shafts extending through slots in said frame withjournals fixed to said frame member and also carrying power drive meansto drive said cutters, and driven belt conveyor means adapted totransfer bricks in succession through said frame between said cuttersyto have opposed sides thereof cleaned by said cutters, said guide meansyieldably guiding brick inlet Iand exit from said frame.

3. A brick cleaning machine comprising a fixed frame, transverselyspaced apart yieldably positionable guide means at the longitudinal endsthereof and mounted thereon to be yieldably urged transversely outwardlyby the bricks to be cleaned, opposed transversely spaced apart fnamemembers guidably, slidably supported on said frame, a cooperative meansguidably, yieldably connecting each frame member and said frame, saidcooperative means being adapted to align said frame members initiallywith said guide members and to permit said frame members to be yieldablyurged Itransversely outwardly from an initial minimum distance betweensaid frame members, each frame member carrying a longitudinal row ofcutters on upright shafts extending through slots in said frame withjournals fixed to said frame member and each frame member also carryingpower drive means to drive said cutters, and driven belt conveyor meansadapted to transfer bricks in succession through said frame between saidcutter rows to have the opposed sides thereof cleaned by said cutters.

4. A brick cleaning machine as claimed in claim 3 which includes crankmeans threadable with relation to said frame and removable meansconnectable to said crank whereby upon crank rotation relativetranslation is produced between said frame and said frame members.

5. A brick cleaning machine as claimed in claim 3 which includes meansfor adjusting initial guide position.

6. A brick cleaning machine as claimed in claim 3 which includes supportmeans for said frame extending through slots in said frame members.

7. A brick cleaning machine comprising -a fixed frame, opposedtransversely spaced apart frame members supported for guided ltransversemovement relative to the 1ongitudinal axis of said frame on said frame,cooperative means guidably, yieldably connecting each frame member andsaid frame to permit said frame members to be yieldably urgedtransversely outwardly from an initial distance between said framemembers, each frame member carrying a longitudinal row of cutters onupright shafts extending through slots in said frame with journals fixed`to said frame member, and each frame also carrying power drive means todrive said cutters, and conveyor means adapted .to transfer bricks insuccession through said frame between said cutter rows to have theopposed sides thereof cleaned by said cutters as said frame membersguidably, yieldably retract or advance transversely responsive torespective variations in brick thicknesses as bricks are moved throughsaid machine to be cleaned.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 595,065Jones Dec. 7, 1897 1,505,867 -Cote Aug. 19, l1924 1,885,772 Sesko Nov.1, 1932 1,958,001 Heim May 8, 1934 2,671,992 Reaser Mar. 16, 1954

